The top 5 Aeros to watch this season

Many teams in the AHL are benefiting from the current NHL lockout situation. The Minnesota Wild, who have a deep prospect pool, had few spots open to begin with after the free-agent signings of Zach Parise and Ryan Suter in the summer. Either way, the Aeros were going to be rich in talent this season, lockout or not. The Aeros kick off the season at 7:05 p.m. Saturday at home against the Charlotte Checkers.

With the influx of talented prospects in training camp, here are the top 5 players to watch this season:

Mikael Granlund
Rookie center Mikael Granlund, the Wild’s first-round pick in 2010, is one top forward prospects in the NHL. The skilled Finnish center scored four goals playing on a line with Jason Zucker and Charlie Coyle in the Aeros’ 6-2 preseason win over the Oklahoma City Barons on Saturday. Small for NHL standards and for a center, the 5’10 Granlund makes up for his lack of size with his vision and on-ice execution.

Jason Zucker
Jason Zucker got a small taste of the NHL with the Wild late last season when he was eligible. Zucker tallied two assists in six games of action up with Minnesota. Zucker, another skilled forward, starred for Team USA in the 2010 World Juniors and helped the team win the gold. Zucker also shined on the college level with the University of Denver by scoring 22 goals and adding 24 assists in 38 games last season.

Charlie Coyle
Charlie Coyle was a key piece when the Wild sent Brent Burns to the Sharks for Devin Setoguchi in 2011. At 6-2, Coyle provides size and skill down the middle for the Aeros. Coyle has a lot of raw ability and with some seasoning in the AHL, he could develop into a Joe Thornton-like player for the Wild in the future.

Steven Kampfer
The Aeros get a puck-moving, offensively skilled defenseman in Steve Kampfer. Kampfer also carries some successful NHL experience. In the 2010-11 season with the Boston Bruins, Kampfer tallied five goals and five assists in 38 games, but an injury playing in the AHL kept him from playing with Boston in the Stanley Cup playoffs. Kampfer was traded from the Bruins to the Wild for stay-at-home defensemen Greg Zanon at last year’s trade deadline. Kampfer is a player who would have challenged for a spot on the Wild’s third defense pairing.

Zack Phillips
After tearing it up in junior hockey, Zack Phillips should get a spot with the Aeros this season. The young center scored 95 points off 38 goals and 57 assists in 67 games for Saint John Sea Dogs in 2010-11. It will be interesting to watch his game develop at the pro level.